TORRINGTON – The Torrington 9-10-year-old All-Stars trailed 10-2 heading into the fifth inning, before posting 17 runs in the frame to hold on to a 20-19 win over Gillette American in district Little League action here Tuesday.
During the top of the fifth inning, Torrington batted around the order twice, plating 11 runs in a row. Mac Hibben scored three runs in the frame, while Mateo Correa, Race Schwartzkopf, Ryan Moorehouse, Brady Cook, Matthew Keene and Caleb Kelly all came around to score twice. Braeden Reid, who scored the first two runs of the game for Torrington, and Griffin Wolfe both scored a run in the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gillette scored two runs in the fifth to bring the score to 19-12. Caleb Kelly scored again in the sixth inning to grow Torrington’s advantage to 20-12.
Gillette started mounting a comeback in the sixth inning. They scored seven runs to bring the game to within one. With one out left, Gillette got a hit just into the infield grass. Reid, Torrington’s catcher, grabbed the ball and turned for a diving tag out of the runner trying to make it home for the final out.
Schwartzkopf, Hibben, Cook and Kelly all had a single in the win.

Also on Tuesday, the 11-12-year-old All-Stars picked up a 20-5 win over Rawlins to stave off elimination. Kealy Carson pitched 5 1/3 innings in the win, allowing four runs on four hits.
Rawlins took the early lead, scoring two in the first inning. Torrington came back to score seven runs in the second inning and they grew their lead to 11-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Rawlins scored once in the fourth and fifth innings to shorten their deficit to 11-4.
In the top of the sixth, Torrington scored another nine runs, while Rawlins scored one in the bottom of the frame, to finish with a score of 20-5.
Ryder Hackbarth, Carson Schultz and Carson each scored three times in the win. Austin Short, Ayden Desmond, Bryce Hager and Dawson McFadden all scored twice. Keyan Sargent, Barrett Eichenberger, and Tyler Bennick each added a run.
The 11-12-year-olds continued to battle off elimination in the tournament Wednesday, picking up a 7-3 win over Newcastle.
Schultz recorded the first hit for Torrington and came around to score the first run in the second inning. Newcastle scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a lead, before Ben Firminhac, Hackbarth and Hager all came around to score.
A Newcastle run to open the fourth brought the game to within one, but Firminhac, Hackbarth and Matthew Hellus all scored for Torrington in the bottom of the frame to seal the four-run win.
Hager’s day was highlighted by a homerun in the third inning. Torrington amassed five hits in the win.
To close out round robin play for the younger all-star teams, Torrington squared off against Gillette Nationals, falling 14-3 in four innings. Gillette was the first to score, plating a run in the first inning, but Torrington rallied to score two runs (Reid and Keene) in the second inning.
Things came unraveled in the second inning for Torrington, allowing 12 runs in the frame. Gillette added another run in the third inning to increase their lead to 14-2. Ty Albaugh scored in the fourth inning, but the rally was halted and after a short rain delay, Gillette got the win.
On Thursday after press time, the 9-10-year-olds, as the third seed after round robin play, took on the Gillette Nationals again. If they won, they play at 1 p.m. today for the championship. With a loss last night, Torrington plays for third at 10 a.m.
The 11-12-year-old All-Stars played Thursday night against Laramie in a loser-out game. With a win, Torrington automatically qualified for the state tournament and earned a spot in the championship game. The title contest is slated for 10 a.m., but if the team that loses only has one loss on the week, a winner-takes-all game is set for 1 p.m.